ETW STAFF – Mumbai
The colorful Dolphin and Turtle Festival, being organised by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), is just around the corner. The pristine beaches of Murud, Harnai and Velas will host this unusual phenomenon and a plethora of attractive activities that will enthrall visitors from March 15 to 17, 2013.
Preceding the success of the recent Chikoo Festival of Dahanu, MTDC has been weaving festivals around such marvels of Maharashtra to create awareness about the abundant destinations around the theme in the State amongst national and international tourists.
Being a long beach, Murud Harnai, is to host a variety of colourful and engaging activities in association with Suvarna Durga Paryatan Vikas Bahu Udeshiya Seva Sanghatna. Tourists will be enchanted with many entertaining and participative activities like Celebrity Beach Cricket, beach sports and sand sculptures. The local Malwani cuisine and the best quality fish from Kardhe will be served, along with relishes like Modak and Sonakadi that will tickle the taste buds of the visitors. The first mango of the season will also be up for taste at the festival.
Along with Dolphin spotting, cultural programmes will be arranged by Cultural Department of Maharashtra like ‘Zakhdi Nrutya’ that will make tourists dance to the tunes of folk music. A becharming beach musical night will mesmerize audience, where renowned singers will render Bollywood, Hindi and marathi bhavgeet songs based on the theme of sea. About 6000 tourists are expected to witness this extravaganza and will be boarding home stays at Murud Harnai during the Festivals.
Velas hosts the nesting of endangered Olive Ridley Turtles that migrate thousands of miles to lay their eggs on the shores of the Arabian Sea at Maharashtra. Velas is a mere one-and-a-half hour’s drive from Murud Harnai. MTDC, in association with Kasav Mitra Mandal, has arranged 500 tourist stays to witness this unusual phenomenon of turtle hatching and the inception of their journey to the sea.
